Apparatus and method for removing foreign matter from a pool of liquid

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for removing foreign matter from a pool of liquid wherein a plurality of spaced nozzles are disposed in the opposite sidewalls of the pool for injecting streams of conically-shaped inoculum carrying liquid into the pool, the nozzles being arranged in the opposite sidewalls so that the outer surfaces of the streams from opposite nozzles intersect and slightly overlap such that the turbulence mixing regions of all the streams occupy approximately all of the liquid in the pool, with drain openings being located in the pool in those regions of least turbulence to remove the foreign matter from the pool.

United States Patent 91 Gansloser 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [76] lnventor: EmilGansloser, Grazer Strasse 26, 3

Hannover, Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,413

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data UN lTED STATES PATENTS Becker..2l0/l69 Hartman. ..2l0/l69 X 6/1930 Test ..2l0/l69 4/1970 Baker..2l0/l69X Primary Examiner-Samih N. Zaharna Assistant Examiner-T. A.Granger Att0rneyGeorge F. Dvorak, Stephen T. Skrydlak and Marden S.Gordon 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus and method for removing foreign matterfrom a pool of liquid wherein a plurality of spaced nozzles are disposedin the opposite sidewalls of the pool for injecting streams ofconically-shaped inoculum carrying liquid into the pool, the nozzlesbeing arranged in the opposite sidewalls so that the outer surfaces ofthe streams from opposite nozzles intersect and slightly overlap suchthat the turbulence mixing regions of all the streams occupyapproximately all of the liquid in the pool, with drain openings beinglocated in the pool in those regions of least turbulence to remove theforeign matter from the pool.

7 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING FOREIGNMATTER FROM A POOL OF LIQUID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order toinoculate the large amount of liquid present in swimming pools,biological clarification basins, and the like, for the purposes ofsterilization or cleaning, it is known to use a portion of the liquidcontained in the pool as a carrier of the inoculum in a steady type ofcirculation thereby introducing the inoculum into the liquid in thepool. In view of the great amount of water involved, difficulties areencountered in achieving a rapid and complete dispursion of theinoculant into substantially all of the liquid.

In the past, the introduction of the liquid carrying inoculant hasoccurred from a tube which protrudes into the center of the main body ofliquid in the pool. The inoculation liquid then more-or-less randomlydiffuses through the liquid in the pool. With a large amount of liquid,this process of random diffusion is quite time. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus and method of the presentinvention provides for the rapid and uniform distribution of theinoculum throughout approximately all of the liquid present in the poolin that the liquid carrying inoculum is injected into the liquid of thepool by means of nozzles placed along two opposite sides of the pool.From these nozzles are emitted turbulent conically-shaped streams ofinoculant carrying liquid, the axes of the nozzles being generallyparallel to each other such that the streams emitted from the nozzles onopposite sides of the pool intersect and slightly overlap each otherapproximately in the region of the longitudinal center plane of the poolin order to assure that the turbulencemixing regions of the liquidstreams occupy substantially all of the liquid in the pool.

It was found that by turbulently injecting the inoculant into the pool,problems were encountered as to removing the foreign matter from thepool due to the turbulent condition of the liquid in the pool. Thisproblem of foreign matter is solved in the present in vention in thatresearch and experimentation showed where the least points of turbulenceexist in a pool relative to the location of the nozzles, and since thesepoints, of least turbulence gather the greatest proportion of depositedforeign matter, it is at these locations that drain openings aredisposed in the pool such that effective removal of foreign matter isachieved in spite of the great amount of turbulence existing in theother regions of the body of liquid in the pool.

Experimentation and research has determined that it is advantageous toremove the foreign matter at several spots distributed evenly across thebottom of the pool in the regions of leastturbulence, one such regionbeing found to be under the apex portion of the conically-shaped liquidstream as it is emitted from the nozzle. Another region being along thelongitudinalaxis of the pool as this is the zone of intersection of thestreams emitted from the opposed nozzles. Still a further region hasbeen determined to be in the pool bottom along the sidewall of the poolin positions approximately opposite to the nozzles from which the streamis being emitted. A combination of the various locations of drainopenings has proven to be extremely effective in removing substantiallyall of the foreign matter which is settled out from the liquid in thepool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pool of liquid illustratingnozzles and drain locations disposed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational section view taken on line 11-" of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational section view taken on lineIII-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational section view taken on lineIV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a top wall of apool illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a pool illustrating afalse bottom which is vertically adjustable relative to the bottom of apool; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic top plan section view taken along line VII-VII ofFIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, wherein forthe purpose of illustra-v tion is shown preferred embodiments of theinvention, and referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 inclusive, there isindicated generally a basin or pool 1 containing a body of liquid 2. Aseries of nozzles 3 and 4are disposed along opposite sides of the pool 1for continuously injecting portions of liquid 2 carrying an inoculuminto the pool 1 thereby continuously keeping the liquid 2 in circulationand using the liquid as the carrier for the inoculum. The inoculumcarrying liquid is injected from. the nozzles 3 and 4 into the liquid 2as a conically-shaped liquid jet stream which turbulently flows from thenozzle to theopposite side of the pool 1. It has been found to beexceedingly advantageous to the turbulent effect if the cone-angle atthe apex of the conically-shaped stream is from about l0 to about 16.

The axes 5, 6, and 7 of the nozzles 4 along the the axes 8 and 9 of thenozzles 3 lie in parallel relationship to each other with the nozzlesbeing disposed along the sidewalls of the pool such that axis 8 liesapproximately intermediate axes 6 and 7, axis 6 lies approximatelyintermediate axes 8 and 9, axis 9 lies approximately intermediate axes 5and 6. The axes 5, 6, and 7 may lie in the same horizontal planerelative to the pool bottom as the axes 8 and 9, but, if so desired, theaxes 5, 6, and 7 may lie at a different height and in a different planethan the axes 8 and 9. However, the nozzles 3 and 4 and their respectiveaxes would always be arranged with respect to each other so that theturbulencel-mixing regions of all the liquid streams will move throughapproximately all of the liquid 2 in the pool- 1 so that the liquid inthe pool will be inoculated in a very short time.

In order to guarantee an intensive mixing of the inoculant throughoutthe entire pool 1, it is preferred that the mixing regions of adjacentnozzles 3 and 4 intersect each other and slightly overlap. This ispreferably achieved by making the axial distances between the nozzlessmaller than about 75% of the value at which the conically-shaped streamwouldin theory. make contact with each other so that the streams emittedfrom the opposite adjacent nozzles intersect generally along thelongitudinal axis of the pool.

in liquid containing basins such as swimming pools, biological settlingtanks, and the like, it is preferrable to continuously remove theforeign matter which settles out from the liquid in the pool, suchremoval being performed even during the inoculation of the liquid. Inorder to accomplish this removal of foreign matter, drain locations 11a,11b, and 110 are provided at the bottom of the pool 1 and areapproximately evenly dis-. tributed across the pool bottom.

The drain openings 11a and 11b lie close to the sidewalls of the pool 1and are positioned approximately beneath the nozzle injecting theinoculant such that the openings are beneath the apex of theconicallyshaped stream of liquid as it is injected into the pool 1. Thedrain openings 11c are located along the longitudinal axis 12 of thepool. bottom, this being beneath the approximate zone of contact 13between adjacent liquid streams.

Certain pools or basins may also have drain locations along the bottomof the pool adjacent the sidewalls and located generally opposite to thenozzle on the opposite sidewall from which the inoculant is beinginjected.

The regions set forth above for removal of foreign matter have beendetermined by experimentation to be those regions of smallest turbulenceand accordingly it is in such regions that the bulk of the foreignmatter becomes deposited, so that in spite of the turbulence existing inthe other regions of the liquid 2 in the pool 1, a good removal of theforeign matter is accomplished.

Referring now to FIG. 5, this illustrates the removal of foreign matterfrom the top surface 2a of the liquid 2 for uses where the pool is of ashape requiring such removal by the-circulating of the liquid over thetop ledge 14 of the sidewall or endwall 15 of a pool. In such poolconstructions, the level 2a of the liquid 2 is maintained slightlyhigher than the ledge 14 which tapers upwardly in an outward directionfrom the liquid and towards the removal trough 21, this angle of taperbeing indicated by the reference a This type of foreign matter removalfrom the top level 2a of the liquid 2 which circulates across the ledge14 and into the trough 21 provides the additional advantage that theimpurities which are floating atop the liquid are removed,

along with providing the additional benefit of apleasant visionalimpression being created in that a rather smooth liquid level isachieved. This smooth level is achieved and maintained since waves whichmay be created on the liquid 2 will flow over the 'wall' 15 and into thetrough 21 without encountering any resistance and thus avoidingbounceback or wave reflection in the pool, whereas waves created inpools not filed to the top of the surrounding walls would then.

strike the, wall and reflect back into the pool.

Generally speaking, it is preferable to remove the major portionof thecirculating liquid 2 through the drain openings in the bottom of thepool, and only remove through the trough '21 that amount of liquidnecessary to assure a steady and constant flow of the liquid 2continuously around the pool ledge 14.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a swimming pool 16 which isprovided with an adjustably supported false bottom 17 which can bevertically raised or lowered with respect to the bottom 19 of the pool.Drain openings 20 have been provided along the longitudinal axis 18 ofthe pool 16, these openings being distributed uniformly. across thebottom of the swimming pool. The edge regions of the bottom 19 of thepool 16 are kept clean by the liquid 2 which passes between the sideportions of the pool and the edg'esof the false bottom 17.

.It is to be understood that the form of this invention body of liquidin a pool, the pool including a pair of In the swimming poolconstruction. as, just described,

endwalls, a pair of sidewalls, and a bottom comprising:

a plurality of nozzle means in the sidewalls for inject ingconically-shaped streams of inoculum carrying liquid into the pool, afirst nozzle in a first sidewall constructed and arranged whereby a sideof its conically shaped discharge stream is parallel to a side of theconically-shaped discharge system of a second nozzle oppositely disposedin a second sidewall, a third nozzle in said first sidewall constructedand arranged whereby a side of its conically-shaped discharge stream isparallel to a side of the conically shaped discharge stream" of saidsecond nozzle, and successive nozzles arranged similarly whereby theentire upper portion of said body liquid in said pool is substantiallycomprised of said oppositely disposed conically shaped dischargestreams; and '1 drain means for said pool located in the bottom of saidpool vertically beneath each of said nozzles located in the sidewalls ofsaid pool.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the drain means comprises aplurality of spaced openings disposed in the bottom of the pool,vertically beneath the overlapping region of oppositely directeddischarge streams in said body of water in said pool.

3.'Apparatus asdescribed in claim 1 wherein the drain meanscomprises acontinuous gutter type groove extending along the sidewalls at theapproximate liquid level surface of the body of liquid in said pool forremoving foreign matter from the surface of the liquid.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the nozzles are disposed ina horizontal plane which is parallel to the surface of the, body ofliquid in said pool.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein each of said nozzles havean outlet opening adapted for emitting said. conically-shaped dischargestream therefrom in the shape of a cone having a fluid spread cone angle'at the apex of the discharge stream of about 10 to l6.

6. The method of removing foreign matter from a cessive conically shapeddischarge streams body of liquid in a pool, the pool including a pair ofsimilarly into said pool whereby the entire upper endwalls, a pair ofsidewalls, and a bottom comprising portion f said body of liquid is Saidpool is l p? of: stantially comprised of said oppositely disposed inecting conically shaped streams of moculum car- 5 conically Shapeddischarge Streams; and

"Y g 'q "f the p f plurality withdrawing foreign matter from the body ofliquid zles disposed in the pool, in ecting a first conically in Saidpool at drain openings disposed in the pool shaped discharge stream froma first sidewall whereby a side of the discharge stream is parallel to aside of a second conically shaped discharge l0 stream emitted from anoppositely. disposed second sidewall, injecting a third conically shapedvertically beneath each of said nozzles located in the. sidewalls ofsaid pool.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the ste of maintaining thedischarge stream from each nozzle discharge stream from said firstsidewall whereby a in a conifal Shape having a cone angle at the apex ofside of its discharge stream is parallel to a side of about 10 to 16said second discharge stream, and injecting sucl5

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the drain means comprises aplurality of spaced openings disposed in the bottom of the pool,vertically beneath the overlapping region of oppositely directeddischarge streams in said body of water in said pool.
 3. Apparatus asdescribed in claim 1 wherein the drain means comprises a continuousgutter type groove extending along the sidewalls at the approximateliquid level surface of the body of liquid in said pool for removingforeign matter from the surface of the liquid.
 4. Apparatus as describedin claim 1 wherein the nozzles are disposed in a horizontal plane whichis parallel to the surface of the body of liquid in said pool. 5.Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein each of said nozzles have anoutlet opening adapted for emitting said conically-shaped dischargestream therefrom in the shape of a cone having a fluid spread cone angleat the apex of the discharge stream of about 10* to 16*.
 6. The methodof removing foreign matter from a body of liquid in a pool, the poolincluding a pair of endwalls, a pair of sidewalls, and a bottomcomprising the steps of: injecting conically shaped streams of inoculumcarrying liquid into the pool from a plurality of nozzles disposed inthe pool, injecting a first conically shaped discharge stream from afirst sidewall whereby a side of the discharge stream is parallel to aside of a second conically shaped discharge stream emitted from anoppositely disposed second sidewall, injecting a third conically shapeddischarge stream from said first sidewall whereby a side of itsdischarge stream is parallel to a side of said second discharge stream,and injecting successive conically shaped discharge streams similarlyinto said pool whereby the entire upper portion of said body of liquidis said pool is substantially comprised of said oppositely disposedconically shaped discharge streams; and withdrawing foreign matter fromthe body of liquid in said pool at drain openings disposed in the poolvertically beneath each of said nozzles located in the sidewalls of saidpool.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step ofmaintaining the discharge stream from each nozzle in a conical shapehaving a cone angle at the apex of about 10* to 16* .